Needforgap capability signaling in new radio

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a method comprises receiving, by a network node, a first level capability about measurement gap needed or not for a user equipment. The method further comprises transmitting, by the network node, a pre-configured measurement gap pattern, in response to the reported first level capability indicates that the user equipment needs a measurement gap. The method further comprises receiving, by the network node, status of the pre-configured measurement gap pattern is changed by the user equipment.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 reporting, by a user equipment, a first level capability associated with whether at least one measurement gap is needed for the user equipment;   receiving, by the user equipment, at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern configured by a network node;   determining, by the user equipment, a second level capability associated with whether at least one measurement gap is needed based on at least one of at least one current physical layer configuration or at least one measurement configuration of the user equipment;   determining, by the user equipment, when to enable or disable the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern based on the second level capability of the user equipment; and   informing, by the user equipment, the network node that at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern is changed.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one current physical layer configuration comprises at least one of a number of MIMO layers, at least one set of supported band combinations, and at least one another physical layer configurations. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first level capability is determined based on at least one maximum level of at least one physical layer configuration supported by the user equipment, and is carried in one or more of at least one UECapabilityInformation message, at least one RRCConnectionComplete message, and at least one RRCReconfigurationComplete message. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first level capability is reported according to one or more of at least one granularity per band combination, at least one supporting band, and at least one per band combination/per user equipment, per frequency range 1/frequency range 2 (FR1/FR2) grouping. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern is enabled or disabled. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus, comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
 report a first level capability associated with whether at least one measurement gap is needed for a user equipment;   receive at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern configured by a network node;   determine a second level capability associated with whether at least one measurement gap is needed based on at least one of at least one current physical layer configuration or at least one measurement configuration of the user equipment;   determine when to enable or disable the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern based on the second level capability of the user equipment; and   inform the network node that at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern is changed.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the at least one current physical layer configuration comprises at least one of a number of MIMO layers, at least one set of supported band combinations, and at least one another physical layer configurations. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the first level capability is determined based on at least one maximum level of at least one physical layer configuration supported by the user equipment, and is carried in one or more of at least one UECapabilityInformation message, at least one RRCConnectionComplete message, and at least one RRCReconfigurationComplete message. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the first level capability is reported according to one or more of at least one granularity per band combination, at least one supporting band, and at least one per band combination/per user equipment, per frequency range 1/frequency range 2 (FR1/FR2) grouping. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern is enabled or disabled. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern comprises one of:
 at least one setting configured to set a disabled status by default with the pre-configured measurement gap pattern being stored, but used once it is enabled;   at least one setting configured to set an enabled status by default with the pre-configured measurement gap pattern being stored and used; or   at least one explicit indication with one additional bit together with the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern is changed comprises being changed either from disabled to enabled, or from enabled to disabled, wherein the change occurs when MeasurementObject configuration or the physical layer configuration for the user equipment changes. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the informing the at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern is changed via uplink MAC CE, physical layer command, or RRC signaling. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus, comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
 receive a first level capability associated with whether at least one measurement gap is needed for a user equipment;   transmit at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern, in response to the received first level capability indicates that the user equipment needs a measurement gap; and   receive in indication that at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern is changed; and   determine to enable or disable the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern based on the received status change.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the first level capability is received in one or more of at least one UECapabilityInformation message, at least one RRCConnectionComplete message, and at least one RRCReconfigurationComplete message. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the first level capability is received on the basis of one or more of at least one granularity per band combination, or at least one supporting band, or at least one per band combination/per user equipment, or per frequency range 1/frequency range 2 (FR1/FR2) grouping. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern is enabled or disabled. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern comprises one of:
 at least setting configured to set a disabled status by default with the pre-configured measurement gap pattern being stored, but used once it is enabled;   at least setting configured to set an enabled status by default with the pre-configured measurement gap pattern being stored and used; or   at least one explicit indication by one additional bit together with the pre-configured measurement gap pattern.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern comprises being changed either from disabled to enabled, or from enabled to disabled, wherein the change occurs when at least one MeasurementObject configuration or the physical layer configuration for the user equipment changes. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the informing the at least one status of the at least one pre-configured measurement gap pattern is changed is via uplink MAC CE, physical layer command or RRC signaling.